Thursday, September 28, 2006

According to Hospitality Advisors in Honolulu, the average cost of a hotel room in Hawaii was $199 in August of 2006. Hawaii's hotel occupancy rates averaged 84% in August, which was second only to Seattle and New York City in the United States. The average hotel room rates on the different islands in August were Oahu $165, Big Island $200, Kauai $202, and Maui $266. Wailea Maui is the most expensive region in Hawaii, with an average hotel room rate of $430. Budget travelers should not be too concerned however, because there are still lower cost hotel rooms available in Hawaii, even though they are not as plentiful as they once were. For information about Hawaii accommodations in every price range see:

The Kauai Concert Association produces an annual concert series featuring many different types of music and dancing, including classical, jazz, world music, and more. Performances take place at the Kauai Community College Performing Arts Center in Lihue. Upcoming performers include Jeffrey Swan, the Ying Quartet, Chanticleer, the Campbell Brothers, the Aspen Santa Fe Ballet, the Poulenc Trio, Jacqui Naylor, and the Trio Con Brio Copenhagen. For more information see the Kauai Concert Association 2006/2007 Calendar.

Wednesday, September 27, 2006

The 700 acre Kealia Pond National Wildlife Refuge on the southeast coast of Maui was established in 1992 as a home for shorebirds, migratory ducks, and endangered native water birds. A pedestrian boardwalk through the refuge was completed in 2005 but it never officially opened to the public because cracks appeared in the planks shortly after the walkway was installed. This week work began on repairing the boardwalk and officials hope it will be formally opened to the public in 2007.

Developer Sea Mountain Five plans to spend almost $600 million over the next ten years to build a 434-acre resort in Punaluu, near the south tip of the Big Island of Hawaii. Plans include a 70-room eco-resort in a partnership with environmentalist Jean-Michel Cousteau and a 200-room luxury hotel. The development will also include single and multiple family homes, renovation of the existing golf course, retail and commercial developments, and a marine conservation and cultural center. The Sea Mountain Resort was first planned in the 1970's, but only the golf course and a few condominiums were built at that time.

Monday, September 25, 2006

Lydgate Beach Park on the Island of Kauai is a great spot for family outings because of its two lava rock protected swimming areas and its close proximity to the Kamalani Playground. The beach is a popular spot for swimming and snorkeling. Attractions and facilities include a large sandy beach, grassy areas, shade trees, lifeguards, picnic tables, restrooms, and showers. [View Larger Photo]

Go Airlines has introduced a $19 one-way fare for inter-island tickets purchased between September 22 and September 30, 2006. The special fare applies to tickets from Honolulu to Lihue, Kahului, Kona, and Hilo, but it does not apply to tickets for travel during the peak holiday periods surrounding Thanksgiving and Christmas. Rivals Aloha Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines have critized Go Airlines for offering unrealistically low fares, but even so, they have both matched Go's $19 fare. Go Airlines is calling their new fares "HERO Fares" which is apparently an inside joke at the expense of the new organization known as Hawaii Airline Employees Repelling Ornstein, which was formed by employees of Go's competitors to challenge statements made by the Mesa Air Group's Chief Executive Officer Jonathan Ornstein. Mesa is the parent company of Go Airlines.

Friday, September 22, 2006

Helicopter tours are a popular visitor activity in Hawaii because they are a great way to view and photograph many of Hawaii's most spectacular landscapes and attractions in a short time. If you decide to take a helicopter tour during your Hawaii vacation, be sure to research the safety record of the company you select. Here is a guide to helicopter tour companies on the islands of Oahu, Maui, Kauai, Lanai, Molokai, Niihau, and the Big island of Hawaii plus articles discussing safety and environmental issues related to Hawaii helicopter tours.

Hawaii's unemployment rate of 2.8 percent is the lowest in the United States. Hawaii is the only state with an unemployment rate lower then 3%. The next lowest rates are South Dakota, Virginia, and Utah, all with 3.2 percent. The national unemployment rate in the United States is 4.7 percent.

Tickets are on sale now for the Mercedes-Benz Championship Golf Tournament, January 1-7, 2007 at the Kapalua Resort on the island of Maui. The Mercedes-Benz Championship is the opening event of the PGA tour, and it has been played at the Plantation Golf Course at the Kapalua Resort since 1999, when it moved to Hawaii after being held at the La Costa Resort in Southern California for 30 years..

Wednesday, September 20, 2006

Today the Rolling Stones confirmed they will perform a concert in Honolulu's Aloha Stadium on November 22, 2006. The Rolling Stones have performed in Hawaii three times in the past, in 1966, 1973, and 1998. Tickets for the 2006 concert will cost $60-$160 and they will go on sale at 10:00 a.m. on September 30 at the Blaisdell box office and Ticketmaster.

Information about the guided bird watching tours organized by Hawaii Forest and Trail and Oahu Nature Tours. Also includes information about the best bird watching spots in Hawaii, including the Waimea Valley Audubon Center, the Kawai Nui Marsh, the Aalakai Swamp, and wildlife sanctuaries and preserves on several different Hawaiian Islands.

Tuesday, September 19, 2006

A group of airline employees working for Hawaiian Airlines, Aloha Airlines, and Island Air have formed an organization to rebut statements made by inter-island airline and rival Go! Airlines. The group has named itself "Hawaii's Airline Employees Repelling Ornstein". Jonathan Ornstein is the Chief Executive Officer of the Mesa Air Group, Go's parent company. For more information see the new organization's Web site at DontFlyGo.com and Go's response to the formation of the new group.

The Hawaii Council on Portuguese Heritage is organizing a Portuguese Festa that will take place October 7-8, 2006 at the McCoy Pavilion in Honolulu's Ala Moana Park from 10 am to 5 pm. The event will feature traditional Portuguese foods such as malasadas, bean soup, linguica, and sweet bread, plus craft and cooking demonstrations, cultural displays, video presentations, geneology resources, and local artists and vendors. Admission will be $3 for adults and free for children. For more information phone 808-845-1616. For more about the Portuguese heritage of Hawaii see the Islander Magazine article "The Pokiki: Portuguese Traditions".

The owner of Prince Resorts Hawaii is planning to sell their 1800 acre Makena Resort in South Maui, which includes the 310-room Maui Prince Hotel, the Makena Golf Course, and surrounding land that is zoned for a resort development.

Sunday, September 17, 2006

The Hilton Waikoloa Village Resort on the Big Island of Hawaii is offering low local rates to visitors attending their Pat Benetar concert on October 1, 2006. The concert will also feature Neil Giraldo and Berlin. The $220 package includes a hotel room on October 1 and two general admission tickets to the concert. Other performers lined up for the series include the Doobie Brothers on November 11, Dwight Yoakam on November 18, and Cheap Trick on New Year's Eve. For more information see:

A new restaurant and evening local hangout called the Kapahulu Cafe has opened at the location of the former Hale Noa, a popular cafe which closed in April of 2006. The new cafe is located at 766 Kapahulu Avenue in Honolulu and it is open from 6:00 pm to Midnight, Wednesday through Saturday. It features a small stage with live entertainment and a menu with items such as quesadillas, pastas, salads, and sandwiches.

"Dog the Bounty Hunter" is a reality television series featuring the adventures and misadventures of Hawaii-based bounty hunter Duane Chapman. Chapman was arrested in connection with his highly publicized 2003 capture of Max Factor cosmetics heir Andrew Luster, who fled to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico after skipping out on a $1 million bail. United States marshalls arrested Duane "Dog" Chapman at his Hawaii home this week because bounty hunting is not legal in Mexico.

This article by Harry Shattuck was published in the Houston Chronicle Newspaper on September 10, 2006: "A notice in the monthly Lanai Times Newspaper shook the very fabric of society on Lanai, an island of 3,000 residents. A new law prohibits leaving car keys in the ignition at the Lanai Airport...." [Read Full Article]

Wednesday, September 13, 2006

The island of Lanai is located about 9 miles south of Molokai and 9 miles southwest of Maui and it is approximately 18 miles long and 13 miles wide. Lanai has almost 50 miles of coastline, but very few paved roads. At one time Lanai was known as the "pineapple isle" but since very little pineapple is grown there now, it is known these days as the "secluded isle". Lanai has two very expensive luxury resorts, one on the coast and one in the hills, and one less expensive - but charming - hotel in Lanai City. [Lanai Photo Gallery]

Monday, September 11, 2006

There is an eternal flame memorial in front of Honolulu City Hall that was erected in memory of those who died or put themselves in harm's way during the World Trade Center tragedy on September 11, 2001. Last night Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann led a "Walk of Remembrance" in downtown Honolulu to observe the fifth anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attack. [View Larger Photo]

Kanaha Beach Park on the north coast of Maui has a broad white sand beach bordered by trees, with beautiful views of the ocean, the West Maui Mountains, and the Iao Valley. Kanaha Beach is a popular spot for windsurfing, kite surfing, swimming, camping, picnics, canoeing, and volleyball games. [View Larger Photo]

Sunday, September 10, 2006

Lava Tree State Monument is a forest of lava trees located about three miles southeast of Pahoa Town on the east side of the Big Island of Hawaii. The strange volcanic features in the park are the result of a lava flow that swept through a forest of trees. Here is a picture of one of the trees at Lava Tree State Monument plus three pictures of lava trees being formed by volcanic activity: [Lava Tree Photos]

Girl Fest Hawaii is an annual week-long event in Honolulu focused on changing peer culture to prevent violence against women and girls through education, entertainment, and positive representations of women. Girl Fest Hawaii 2006 is taking place this week - September 8 through 17 - and it includes music performances, comedy acts, parties, workshops, poetry readings, art gallery displays, and a film festival. Men are invited and encouraged to participate in all activities.

Saturday, September 09, 2006

Punaluu Beach is a black sand beach on the south coast of the Big Island that is made up of volcanic glass and rock that has been pounded by the wind and sea into black sand. There is a beach park at Punaluu with a grassy campground, picnic tables, restrooms, and a parking lot. There is also a condominium complex nearby with a swimming pool and a golf course. A reminder to Punaluu Beach visitors: It is not permitted to remove any of the black sand from the beach and people must stay at least fifteen feet away from the sea turtles that often appear on the beach at Punaluu. [View Larger Photo]

The 2006 Kauai Mokihana Festival will take place September 17-23. The event includes a Kauai composer's contest, a musician's contest, a hula contest for men and women, a Hawaiian church service, lectures, workshops, and handmade arts and crafts. The competitions and presentations will take place in many different locations on the island of Kauai.

Thursday, September 07, 2006

Manana Island is a small islet located off the eastern Windward shore of Oahu, between Makapuu Point and Waimanalo. It was once used for farming rabbits but today it is a Hawaii state seabird sanctuary that is home to thousands of birds, including Wedge-Tailed Shearwaters, Sooty Terns, Brown Noddys, Bulwers Petrels, and Red-Tailed Tropic Birds. Here are some photos of Manana Island and other attractions nearby:

Wednesday, September 06, 2006

Nuuanu Pali State Wayside Park is a three acre roadside park in the Koolau Mountains with beautiful panoramic views of the windward coast of Oahu from the edge of a 1200 foot cliff. Those cliffs were the site of a 1795 battle in which King Kamehameha of the Big Island was seeking control of the island of Oahu. The Pali Lookout is located at the top of the Pali Highway between Downtown Honolulu and the windward Oahu towns of Kailua and Kaneohe.

Whether you love to cook, or just love to eat, you will enjoy this free online guide to Food Tours in Hawaii. It includes restaurant tours, farm tours, cooking lessons, and other food-related tours and activities in Hawaii. Some of the tours available are restaurant tours led by Hawaii food writers, culinary tours of Honolulu's Chinatown, cooking demonstrations by some of Hawaii's top chefs, and a farm tour on the Big island of Hawaii.

The 15th annual Taste of Lahaina culinary festival will take place this Friday and Saturday, September 8-9, 2006 in the town of Lahaina on the west coast of the island of Maui. The event will feature twenty-five restaurant tents, a beer and wine garden, a kids fun area, and continuous live entertainment on a stage. Regular admission is $5 plus the price of food and drinks. A preferred dining and parking package is available for $75 and it includes $50 in restaurant food tickets, $10 in drink tickets, waiter service in the fine dining area, preferred concert seating, and preferred parking near the event venue. The festival will take place at Lahaina Recreational Park, behind the soccer field, from 5:00 to 10:00 pm.

Tuesday, September 05, 2006

Sandy Beach Park on the south coast of Oahu is most well-known as a great spot for bodyboarding but it is also a popular venue for a sport known as skimboarding. Skimboarding is riding a board across wet sand or very shallow water. Here is a sequence of photos of skimboarding on Sandy Beach. To see the entire sequence, select the first photo and keep selecting "next photo" to see them all.

Here are four new photos of volcanic activity at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on August 31, 2006. Includes two photos of lava flowing into the sea, an overhead view of Puu Oo Crater, and a skylight on top of the Campout Lava Tube showing the red-hot lava flowing inside.

Friday, September 01, 2006

Kawaikui Beach Park is a peaceful little park in Aina Haina, on the south coast of Oahu, between Kahala and Hawaii Kai. The park has a narrow palm-lined beach, views of Coco Head, and a lovely lawn area with picnic tables. It is a popular spot for weddings and picnics. Here is a gallery with Eight Photos of Kawaikui Beach Park.

On the first Friday of every month, many of the galleries, shops, and cafes in Chinatown and downtown Honolulu remain open until at least 9:00 pm, at a street festival called the Chinatown First Friday Artwalk. At the September 1, 2006 First Friday celebration there will also be an event called the First Friday Merchant Street Festival that will close Merchant Street in Downtown Honolulu from 6:00 to 11:00 pm. Tonight's street festival is sponsored by the Irish pub Murphy's Bar and Grill.